Miche Pope

http://msmicheedu-225.weebly.com
EDU-225
5/31/15

Raft Card 1:

Row 1

ROLE (student)
To be the Hungry

AUDIENCE
A doctor

FORMAT
Thank you letter

Caterpillar

TOPIC
What types of
food should a
caterpillar eat?

Objective: Students will name the type of food caterpillars eat.

Student Role: To play the part of the hungry caterpillars.
Audience:

The caterpillars doctor

Format: Write a thank you letter to the doctor for helping find the right food to eat.
Topic: What type of foods should a caterpillar eat.

Directions: 1) Watch The Very Hungry Caterpillar https://youtu.be/vkYmvxP0AJI

2) Make a circle map of what you would thank the doctor for. (Come up with at
least three reasons.)
3) Complete the thank you letter to caterpillars doctor.
4) Read thank you letters out loud to class.

Resources: https://youtu.be/cll2vGF04XI -Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed leaves

https://youtu.be/b4WYor6UMtU -Monarch caterpillar turns into a chrysalisreal time

https://youtu.be/1YVqHnw0W-Q - Butterfly life cycle (metamorphosis) Song
Assessment: Prepare a circle map with at least three reasons why you would like to thank the
doctor as the Hungry Caterpillar. Next prepare your thank you letter to the doctor. Last, read your
thank you letter to the class.
You will receive up to 5 points for each of the following: circle map, three reasons to thank the
doctor, your thank you letter, and for reading it to the class.

Raft Card 2:

Row 2

ROLE (student)
Play the role of the

AUDIENCE
The animals he

Grouchy ladybug

picks a fight with

FORMAT
An apology letter

TOPIC
How to treat a
friend.

Objective: Students will learn how to treat their friends

Student Role: To play the part of the Grouchy Ladybug
Audience:

The animals he picks a fight with

Format:

Write an apology letter

Topic: How to treat a friend

Directions: 1) Watch The Grouchy Ladybug https://youtu.be/RFNZvJbzmms

2) Make a circle map of which animals you want to apologize to.

3) Complete an apology letter to at least three of the characters
4) Read apology letters
Resources: https://youtu.be/RFNZvJbzmms - The Grouchy Ladybug
https://youtu.be/GOzrAK4gOSo - Sesame Street: Respect (Word on the Street
Podcast)
https://youtu.be/39fiuigmL-w - Kids talk about bullying
Assessment: Prepare a circle map with at least five animals you would like apologize to as the
Grouchy Ladybug. Next prepare your apology letter to three of the characters. Last, read your
apology letter to the class.
You will receive up to 10 points for each of the following: circle map, five characters to
apologize to, your apology letter with at least three characters, and for reading it to the class.

Raft Card 3:

Row 3

ROLE (student)
The Mixed up
Chameleon

AUDIENCE
Parents

FORMAT
Play

TOPIC
Have you ever
wanted to by
anything besides
yourself?

Objective: Students will identify characteristics of the zoo animals the Chameleon
admired.
Student Role: Play the role of the mixed up Chameleon
Audience: Students Parents
Format:

Students will put on a play

Topic: Have you ever wanted to be anything besides yourself?

Directions: 1) Watch The Mixed Up Chameleon. https://youtu.be/3-U0clBoirA

2) Pick a part of the story you want to read
3) Draw a picture of what the chameleon looks like as that animal
4) On the backside write their part of the story.
5) Students read in order of book and show their picture.
Resources: https://youtu.be/3-U0clBoirA -The mixed Up Chameleon

Assessment: Read the Mixed Up Chameleon and find your favorite part of the story to read.
Draw a picture of the chameleon as that animal and write your part of the story on the back of the

picture. Practice your part so that you read with fluency. Next, read the story in order showing
your pictures.
You will receive up to 20 points for each of the following: Drawing of the chameleon as the part
you chose, story on the back, and for being in the play.

Entry 3: Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Introduction
Not all students are the same. They do not come from the same backgrounds, they do not
learn at the same pace, and they do not learn the same way. The use of technology in the
classroom can meet these diverse needs of all students. Technology can meet the different
interests that students have and at varied levels so that all students are being challenged at their
level and interest. These technologies also meet the needs of different multiple intelligences so it
is more engaging for all students. Technology is not just helpful for students but teachers as well.
With technology teachers can better assess their students and it gives them more strategies to
assist their diverse classroom. With a diverse classroom it is important to differentiate the
learning process because it will encourage all learners to learn.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction
Computers: Computers are a great way to differentiate instruction. Teachers can provide
multiple options on how students receive instructions and lessons. The teacher can provide
students with links to videos to show or explain a lesson, notes so students can read about the
lesson and websites they can practice their skills on. With these particular websites it provides

the teacher with feed back on where his or her students are so they can focus on how to better
teach his or her students. Computers give students the option of independent learning and they
can support others who are in need, reinforcing the learning process. Computers help students
focus on the task itself and really gets them involved in their learning. Most students who are
playing these educational games think it is just that playing so they get excited when they get to
move up to the next level. This is why computers are a great tool to differentiate instruction.
Computers also fulfill some of the ISTE standards such as getting students to think critically.
They can work on their research and information fluency and communicate and collaborate with
other students. Computers help with the solving and decision-making process, and it encourages
creativity.
I pads: I pads are another great tool for differentiating instruction. They are small and easy to
transport and gives students all the same options of a computer. They also have a camera and
video camera to use for multimedia projects meeting the need of the ISTE standard for creating
original works. Students can use I pads for multiple things like photography editing, animation,
making videos/movies where they can meet the ISTE standard for collaborate and communicate
information with other students and word games to enhance or teach spelling. Students can use
the I pad to take notes instead of using pencil and paper. I pads can also be a fun way to take tests
and quizzes.
I pads offer a verity of apps that are not only visual but are interactive with the curriculum. So
instead of students just sitting, listening, and writing what is being said they are doing it. Apps
appeal to the creative and logical side of the brain. This is because everything is well organized
and fun. I pad apps target many of the multiple intelligences as well. They target students who
are linguistic because they can record their voices and then paly it back to hear their fluency.

Logical/Mathematical because they can play several different types of math games. Spatial
because there are apps students can use to do project based learning activates, puzzles, and
drawing. I pads help those who are kinesthetic learners because it is all hands on activates. It
helps students who are musically inclined because many educational apps play music. Last it
helps those who are inter and intera personal. Students can write journals or use the camera and
video camera to journal in that way.
SMART Boards: Since SMART Boards are so interactive it evens the playing ground. Higher
students can still be engaged even when you are targeting the lower students and vice versa. With
most SMART Board interactive lessons you can have students take turns. Teachers can call on
higher students to work on harder problems showing and teaching those skills to lower students.
Teachers then can call on lower students to do problems more fitted to their level helping them
receive more practice but reinforcing the skill for higher students. This helps meet the ISTE
standards for critical thinking, communication and collaborating, and solving and decisionmaking.
Teachers can make their own lessons or can find lessons based on grade level, subject,
and standards. These lessons can also come leveled so all students can learn at their level.
Teachers can have students work on these lessons whole group, small group, or individually.
Pros and Cons
Today teachers have more options on how they can differentiate instruction. This can be
overwhelming or very helpful. Technology an help assist the teacher in knowing how each of
their students learn and what they already know. Technology such as computer websites can put
together individual lessons based off the students level. If a teacher would sit down and put

together different lessons for each child it could take years making teachers feel as though they
must multiply themselves in order to address the needs of every student!(Differentiating
Instruction Using Technology: Meeting the Diverse Needs of Students, 2008, pg.21). Teachers
still need to get to know each student personally and understand how they learn to help assist
them even when they are not using technology. Technology will not always be there for teachers
to use and sometimes technology does not know what is best for students. But by putting
technology at the center of learning it can play a significant positive role in cognitive, social, and
emotional development processes of todays young adolescents.(Shankar-Brown, R., & Brown,
B., 2014, pg.19).
Concluding Paragraph
It is a teachers responsibility to meet the needs of all students and to encourage them to
learn to their full potential. Teachers can do this by using technology such as computers, I pads,
and SMART Boards to differentiate instruction. Although there are ups and downs to
differentiating instruction with technology, technology is not going anywhere and it can be a fun
and engaging way to teach and learn.

References:
Differentiating Instruction Using Technology: Meeting the Diverse Needs of Students.
(2008). Special Education Technology Practice, 10(1), 21-26
ISTE Standards for Students. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2015, from
http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-students
Shankar-Brown, R., & Brown, B. (2014). Today's Vodcast: Sunny and Clear, with
an Increased Chance of Learning. Middle School Journal (J3), 45(1), 19-25.